In my recent article, Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm (Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm) I shared 7 blissful tips on how to utilize mindfulness to cultivate calm. I had so much fun writing that article that I decided to share 6 additional ways to assist you with practicing mindfulness that leads to cultivating calm and eliminating stress.

If you haven’t already guessed, my goal is to help you discover how to live a life of Bliss. In living a life of bliss, having excellent health and well-being is key. When you begin to feel better you begin to be able to enjoy life just a little bit more. The busyness of life can cause you to be stretched and pulled in many directions leading to tension, anxiety and stress. Cultivating mindfulness in to one’s daily living is a wonderful way to combat the painful effects of stress while enhancing your physical and mental well-being.

The six Blissful tips in the article can be combined with the original seven tips for a total of 13. Try utilizing the tips for 13 day repeating once for a total of 26 days and see the difference they can make in your life.

6 Blissful Tips to Cultivate Calm

WATCH THE RAIN FALL.

Notice the path of the rain as it falls toward the ground. If you are in a place that snows, try watching the snow instead. Let the puddles inspire you.

BE PATIENT.

Instead of wishing for the day, the week, the year to hurry by so you can get to something better, savor each moment, whether big or small.

TODAY AS YOU WORK, TAKE A MOMENT.

To think not about the task, but about those who will benefit from your task, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR THOUGHTS.

Don’t try to change them, just be aware of them and then let them go without judgment.

TURN OFF ALL SCREENS FOR THE DAY.

No television, no phone, no computer. Be at peace with not being connected.

APPRECIATE A PET.

Take your dog for a walk and notice her joy as she explores your neighborhood. Play with your cat and appreciate his focus. Watch your goldfish and marvel at its grace. If you don’t share your life with a pet, borrow a friend’s or spend some time at a local animal shelter.

While engaging in the Blissful tips to practicing mindfulness while cultivating calm, be easy on yourself and have fun experiencing the benefits from each practice. The more you practice the easier it gets to cultivate calm.

We live in a society that is constantly on the go. Do you ever feel like your life is just passing you by and there is nothing that you can do to slow it down? Ayurveda teaches the practice of being mindful with what you do and how you live your life. Living a balanced, mindful and calm life can lead to health, well-being, longevity, vitality and Bliss. Living a balanced life involves being mindful of what you do in your day-to-day life. It is this mindfulness that leads to cultivating calm in the mind and the body.

Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present, paying attention and accepting your life without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can help you become less stressed, improve your memory and attention and enhance your relationships as well as your well-being.

Below you will find seven tips to help you cultivate calm and bring more bliss into your life. Have fun practicing the blissful tips and feel free to experiment with the tips such as using 2 tips a day. At the end of each day take some time to reflect on how often you used the tip and how it made you feel throughout the day. The more you practice using the tips in your day to day living, the calmer your life will become and the easier it will be for you to eliminate stress from your mind, body and life.

BLISSFULNESS TIPS TO CULTIVATE CALM EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK:

FIND OUR THE EXACT MOMENT OF THE SUNSET IN YOUR AREA.

For two minutes before and two minutes after, simply watch the sun set without thinking about what happened today or what will happen tomorrow.

BREATHE

At various times thought the day, take a few second to focus on your breath entering and leaving your body.

GO TO THE WATER

Whether it’s a pond, a river, a lake, or an ocean, take a moment to watch the water move.

ABSTAIN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT’S FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL APP.

Instead make today about face-to-face connections.

FOR TWO MINUTES TODAY, TAKE A SERENITY BREAK.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply while focusing on how your body is feeling. Need help? Go to (add link for Blissful Living Article)

WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH OTHERS TODAY, LET GO OF HOW THEY MAY AFFECT YOU.

Instead, think of how what you will say and what you will do affects them.

USING THREE BLANK PIECES OF PAPER, WRITE ABOUT WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.

It doesn’t have to be good. Just write about something. Don’t stop until you’ve filled your three pages.

Mindfulness helps to cultivate calm which leads to cultivating Bliss, that enhances our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The beauty of being in a calm, balanced state is that it is enchanting, tantalizing and hypnotic guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Living a blissful life is easier than you think. Once you know what blissful living is and how easy it is to obtain it, you will want to live this way. The quickest way to live a Blissful life is to eliminate stress.

You may be thinking, “ eliminate stress, is that even possible,” and if so how do I accomplish that? You know as well as I do that our society is built upon the battle with stress. Just the thought of the word “stress” causes a stress reaction in most all human beings. So how can the battle of eliminating stress be won without stressing you out?

Here are five things that you can do everyday to win the battle with eliminating stress:

Take a Walk

Our life has become more and more sedentary. We are sitting, standing of lying down for longer periods of time. This can cause an imbalance in our balance of mental to physical energy expended creating stress within. Taking a walk for at least 10 minutes in nature will release feel good endorphins within your body elevating your mental clarity, mental bliss while invigorating your body.

Eat Lunch Somewhere Pleasant

Lunchtime is a wonderful time to take a break and remove yourself from the confines of your desk. Find a place that’s relaxing, quiet and peaceful to eat your lunch or go to lunch with co-workers and release the pent up energy. And while at lunch engage in pleasant and positive conversations or thoughts. Refrain from complaining, criticizing and gossiping. This helps to set a blissful tone for the remainder of the workday.

Relax Your Muscles with a Body Scan

Progressive muscle relaxation can help you notice where you’re holding stress. It doesn’t take long and it’s simple to do: Lie down comfortably on your back with your legs straight. Close your eyes. Start by tensing muscles in your feet, and then relax. Continue the process working your way up your body doing the same thing in sequence from your feet to your head, starting with the right side of your body. Often it’s only by experiencing muscle tension and letting it go that we become aware of just how much tension our bodies are retaining.

Minimize Multitasking

Studies have shown that multitasking is not as efficient or effective as it once was thought to be. Jumping around from one thing to another to another in a constant state of partial attention is exhausting, inefficient and highly stressful. Try giving full attention to one thing at a time and watch your efficiency, effectiveness and Bliss increase.

Get Your Face Out Of Your Phone

Set boundaries on when, where and how you will use your phone. Beware of the “dominating phone.” This is a phone that dominates your life to the point that your phone is in your hands more than not. Try eliminating your phone usage after 8:30pm and not using it before 7:00am and lastly putting your phone away during meals, parties or interacting with your family.

When we choose the path to bliss, we begin to enjoy our journey. Taking small steps to bring Bliss into our life is exactly what we are meant to do. It’s our destiny to live a life of Bliss and by learning what to do to accomplish the goal of Bliss, makes the journey even more special.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Summer time is a wonderful time of the year. The choices for footwear are endless. Strappy sandals. T-strap block heels. Colorful pumps. Espadrille wedges. Pretty much anything goes!

With all the fabulous footwear choices and activities that occur during this time of year, sometimes we push to the edge! We do too much, walk a bit too far or stand a bit too long.

Even in our most comfy pair of shoes, our feet are hot, sore, tired and inflamed. This can cause us to be off balance and centered creating aches and pains in our lower back, hips, thighs, knees, calves and toes.

Ever been there?

If yes, then usage of essential oils may be just the thing you need.

Just as the choices for summer footwear are plenty, so are the choices for pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory essential oils.

German Blue Chamomile is an intensely blue, spicy-scented essential oil. It’s best used for pain, muscle soreness and spasms, inflammation and sprains.

Helichrysum
For decades, Helichrysum essential oil has been successfully used in Europe for profound pain relief. It reduces inflammation and relaxes tight muscles and connective tissue, among other actions.
Marjoram
Known as the “happiness herb” and the “joy of the mountains,” marjoram has strong sedative properties. The essential oil is excellent in treating stiffness, muscle spasms and arthritis pain.

Rosemary essential oil is promoted for its ability to relieve pain, which is why it’s widely when treating muscle pains and even arthritis.

Ginger essential oil has been shown to inhibit the chemical signalers involved in the sensation of pain.Blissful Therapies to Relieve foot pain utilizing essential oils

Massage
Mix 10 to 12 drops of essential oil with one ounce of carrier oil. The most recommended carrier oil for this method is coconut oil as it is clear, light and does not oxidize. Massage the mixture onto the effected area. Keep in mind that “hot” oils such as peppermint can bring strong sensations to the skin, so apply with care.

Soak Add one cup of Epsom salt and 8-10 drops of essential oil to a basin or bucket. Fill with warm water and immerse your feet for 15 minutes.

Compress
Fill a bowl or sink with warm water. Add 3 to 5 drops of essential to the water and stir. Soak a washcloth in the water, wring, then apply to the affected area. These compresses can be used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

When choosing essential oils, please choose a reputable brand that provide therapeutic grade essential oils and uses organically-harvested plant materials and the most potent parts of the plants when creating the essential oil.

And always test mixtures, baths or compresses on a small area of skin to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction to particular oil.*If you are pregnant or nursing, it’s best not to use essential oils. If you’re taking medication, consult with your doctor before using.
Would you like to learn more about how to use essential oils to create your Bliss in your Life? Click here [http://www.feelingfabulous.net] for some of my tips on how to use essential oils in your life.

There’s nothing like bad traffic to trigger stress levels! When we allow ourselves to get angry or frustrated as we drive, everything begins to boil over like a pot of spaghetti sauce… and we all know what happens when spaghetti sauce boils over.

That’s right: chunks of red tomato all over the kitchen!

So when you drive, try not to drive yourself crazy. Set the intention of driving yourself calm, instead. Here’s what you can do to facilitate that process…

Tip #1: Take a Deep Breath

Very often when we sit down in the car, we’re already feeling rushed. But before you put on your seat belt and hit the ignition, take a deep breath. This simple yet profound activity will help bring oxygen into your body and your brain.

As you take a few seconds to breathe deeply before hitting the road, ask yourself what you need. You might discover that you need some balance to your commute, or good music, or even a drink of water before you go.

Tip #2: Give Yourself What You Need

If you need to be at ease, adjust your seat and your mirrors so you can be in a comfortable position while you drive. This will decrease any tension that you might pick up.

If you’re in a comfortable setting while you drive and you come across a tense situation, your body is more relaxed and you’ll be better able to handle the stress.

Tip #3: Be Aware of Others

Look around and recognize that everybody on the road is trying to get somewhere. We’re all in the same boat, so don’t take things personally, even when it seems like someone cut you off just to spite you! All of us want the same thing: to come home safely to our families at the end of the day.

Tip #4: Take a Deep Breath Every 5-10 Minutes

Breathing mindfully is the way we connect with ourselves. When you’re at a stoplight, that’s a good time to take in a deep breath. When you intake oxygen, it calms your brain, and when your brain is calm, you are more relaxed and make better choices. And that is so important when you’re operating a vehicle.

Tip #5: Turn the Music Up and Feel Grateful!

I love listening to good music when I’m on the road because no matter what’s going on around me, it reminds me to be grateful and happy that I’m alive (and those things do a lot to reduce stress).

Search the radio or play your iTunes, and when you feel the urge to flip someone off, turn it up even louder! Music is a wonderful way to remind yourself of what really matters: it connects us to ourselves and our joy.

Are you looking for more ways to live a mindful life and experience bliss? Check out some of my free tips by clicking HERE [freegiftsfromrochele.com].

These days, it’s so easy for our hectic and fast-paced lifestyle to get the best of us. Work, family and finances all demand our time and attention so much that often, we become overwhelmed and disconnected.

However, when we’re mindful we can step back onto the blissful path. It doesn’t take much time to come into a space of mindfulness, just a bit of focus.

Here are five things you can do every day to keep yourself grounded and connected to what really matters.

Start with a Purpose

When you wake up in the morning ask yourself, “What is my purpose today? How would I like the day to go?”

So often we rush out the door and start our day without evening thinking about how we want it to go. Before we know it, we meet people who have energy that doesn’t match ours or we encounter a challenge we weren’t anticipating. That’s when we start to react with frustration, impatience or even a little rage.

Instead of blazing into the day without an intention, strengthen the connection between your higher and lower self first thing in the morning.

When you wake up, take a few slow, deep breaths in and out. Sit in your bed, connect with how your body feels and ask yourself, “What is my intention today?”

Whatever comes up is perfect. Carry that with you through the day and periodically check in to see if you’re living that intention.

Eat with Reverence

In Ayurveda, the act of eating is considered a sacred experience. It is valued as one of the most intimate experiences of ourselves, because when we eat, we take in nutrients that will help with energy levels, vitality and sustainability.

Instead of rushing through your eating process, take time. Allow your body to absorb the fact that it is taking in nutrients, and eat only as much as your body needs.

After you eat in this way, you will feel refreshed and nourished!

Pause Throughout the Day

Take moments throughout the day to pause. They can be 3 to 10 seconds of slow breathing and reflection that will help your brain move out of the fast lane and back to the middle lane or the slow lane as you travel down the highway to bliss!

About 95% of what we do through the day happens on autopilot. The more present we can be, the more joyful we become.

Create New Patterns

Along the lines of running on autopilot, we often do the same things over and over and over again. Even things as simple as always crossing the right leg over the left instead of vice versa can get us into a sort of rut, a sort of “autopilot.”

Try consciously altering your patterns. Cross a different leg on top. Eat something different for breakfast. Shop at a different grocery store. Anything that doesn’t fall into your regular behavioral pattern will help you stay more focused and present in your life.

Exercise

When you activate your muscles, you activate your mind and body. Walking on a treadmill, sweating it out on the elliptical machine or just going for a run outside will stimulate your cardio vascular system and get the blood flowing.

Any way you can get moving is good for you, even if it’s as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

When we choose to live in the slow lane, we are choosing mindfulness. Turning off the autopilot feature of our brains, even if it’s just for a few minutes several times through the day, will help us make the right decisions and ultimately feel more fulfilled in our lives.

Would you like to live life in the slow lane? Click here [Freegiftsfromrochele.com] for some of my tips for slowing down and leading a more purposeful life.

How many of you dread waking up in the morning? No matter how much sleep you get you simply hate getting up in the morning and not because you are tired but rather because it is the morning? We have all been there. It’s morning and when that dreaded alarm clock goes off you muster up all the ump you have in you and you either hit the snooze button or you get up.

Sadly most of us are sleep deprived due to various reasons from insomnia to over stimulation of the mind. When we are plague with sleep challenges it is difficult for our brains and bodies that have been asleep for hours, to shift from sleep to wake at the sound of an alarm. Often times a busy day lies ahead so we must struggle to get a grip on our immediate racing thoughts upon waking up. Having a morning mindfulness routine and practice can help awaken the brain and bring balance and focus to your morning. You may even find with a regular routine of morning mindfulness, you begin to enjoy waking up for the quiet and peaceful moments that starts your day.

Here are a few blissful tips to help you enjoy waking up in the morning.

Upon Waking Up Observe Your Breath

Feel your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Focus on this breath and allow your mind to engage in the process of inhaling and exhaling. If your mind wanders in to other thoughts such as how you would like to just stay in bed, simply note the thought, take 5 more deep breaths in and release them out then rise and get out of bed.

Let The Sunshine In

Upon arising out of bed, before you do anything else such as going to the bathroom or taking a shower, open up the blinds and curtains in your room and let the sunshine in. If the day is a cloudy day do not fret, still open up your window dressings and let the day light in. This has an immediate effect on your brain stimulating the receptors in the brain that differentiate day and night. The light awakens the brain, which then sends signals to the body to wake up and get ready for the day.

Find A Comfortable Spot

Once you have opened up your windows, find a comfortable spot to sit near the window, stretch your arms over your head and then relax them at your sides and let the warmth of the sunshine hit your face so that it can awaken the circulation in your face. Thus further enhancing the mindfulness waking up process.

Observe The Weather

Look out the window and bath your face in the natural light. Take a moment to observe the weather outside as you gaze out your window from your comfortable spot. Notice if the day is sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or foggy? What color is the sky? How bright is the sunshining?

Become aware of your feelings, positive or negative about the current weather situation outside. Notice what arises in your mind as you allow yourself to experience the weather in this manner. Take a deep breath in and release it out.

Stand Up And Start Your Day

Plant your feet firmly on the ground and sit there for a moment or two. Notice the texture of the floor. Is it carpeted, hard wood or tile? Does it feel cold? Hot? Stand straight up, stretch your arms up high above your head and take a deep breath in and exhale out, lower your arms and get moving toward your Blissful Day!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.